Murdered Midland Park Woman’s Estate Sues Police Department for Failure to Take Actions Against Killer, a Former Cop
By Mary K. Miraglia
MIDLAND PARK, N.J. (March 21, 2017) — The estate of Suzanne Bardzell, the special education teacher who was murdered by ex-boyfriend Arthur J. Lomando in her driveway Oct. 22, 2015, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court that claims “indifference” by Midland Park police led to her death.
Lomando, notably, had been the cause of a massive police search earlier the same month when Bardzell called police and said there was an incident at her home, he had fled on foot, and she was afraid he would harm himself. At least 18 police agencies searched in vain for Lomando, who they believed was emotionally distraught, but he disappeared in northwest Bergen only to turn up at his home in Centereach, Long Island.
He was arrested then but posted bail and was released with no conditions on his movements.
The suit filed by Bardzell’s estate claims the local police repeatedly ignored her requests for help. The pair were in Superior Court Oct. 19, only three days before she was killed with a 9-½ inch commando-style knife in her car as she arrived home from work. A final restraining order had been postponed at the request of both Bardzell and Lomando.
Three days later he drove to Hackensack, rented a car on River St., and went to Midland Park to wait for her to arrive home. He smashed the window of her Volkswagen and stabbed her several times. When police arrived, they found Bardzell gravely wounded in her car, the engine still running. Lomando had fled.
Bardzell died at the scene.
The suit, filed by lawyers Lawrence Kleiner of Closter and Eric Kleiner of Englewood Cliffs, alleges the police “became deliberately indifferent towards any complaints that Bardzell might make in the future.” The police, the attorneys said, left Bardzell to obtain a restraining order on her own, and did not take any action to protect her, such as investigating, canvassing the neighborhood or collecting evidence. They also refused to press a criminal complaint again Lomando for second degree burglary and told her no police action would be taken, other than ordering a temporary restraining order, telling Bardzell it was “her word against his.”
Lomando had been a 10-year police officer in New York City, but was fired in 2004 for cause including mental health concerns and misconduct.
The suit says Lomando stalked Bardzell at work and at home, calling her job and trying to get her fired, and breaking into her home through the garage and holding scissors to her throat. He told her it would be easy for him to kill her anytime he wanted.
Lomando escaped after the slaying and ended up in Manhattan where he threw himself in front of a subway. He survived but lost both legs below the knees.
He has filed a $50 million lawsuit against New York City Transit, alleging that he was jostled and fell from the platform due to crowded conditions.
A surveillance camera Bardzell had installed for protection captured her murder.
The lawsuit claims the police department’s actions, in protecting a former officer, caused Bardzell’s death.
